I knew it was only a matter of time before the mild spring ruse gave way to Mother Summer, greeting us at the front door with a humid embrace and a complimentary layer of back sweat.

Still, I refuse to let a little atmospheric soup ruin three perfectly good months. Summer in Nashville is made for rooftop drinks, outdoor movies, riverside hangs, live music, ice cream detours, and convincing yourself that 89° somehow "isn't that bad." So we rounded up all our favorite ways to survive - sorry, enjoy - the season in one place. Here's your Guide to Summer in Nashville.

Today's giveaway comes from our Do615 Family team, and it's one for the books. The Water Lantern Festival is returning this Saturday to Centennial Park for an evening of food, music, and hundreds of glowing lanterns drifting across the water. Bring your favorite people, write a message of hope, love, or whatever's on your mind, and watch it float into the night alongside everyone else's. Enter now to win a pair of tickets!

JUST ANNOUNCED

• What if art could imagine a better world? Kindling Arts Festival returns July 23rd-26th with bold performances, immersive experiences, and this year's theme, Utopias. See if you can score a pair of festival passes.

• Whether you know him from Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, or his solo work, one thing's guaranteed: Tom Morello knows how to command a stage. Catch his full electric band show at Cannery Hall on September 18th, presented by our friends at 91.1 WNXP.

• For one week, Nashville becomes a movie town. The 57th Nashville Film Festival returns September 24th-30th with nearly 150 films, filmmaker Q&As, industry panels, and events taking over venues across the city. VIP badges are on sale now.

• Plus other just announced shows from Ravyn Lenae, Trace Adkins, Wage War, Don Toliver, and more!

GUIDE TO SUMMER IN NASHVILLE

This year’s Summer Guide is packed to the gills with everything from indie-film festivals to outdoor adventures, and includes waterslides, ice cream, family photo-ops, and pretty much all the fun stuff for making this the best summer ever!

THIS WEEKEND

LOCALS ONLY

• Cheekwood says its future is on the line. The beloved Nashville landmark has launched a "Save Cheekwood" campaign after a legal challenge that it says could halt operations and public access. If Cheekwood has been part of your family's story, now's the time to learn what's happening and make your voice heard.

• East Nashville is getting a new neighborhood bar with one feature that's surprisingly hard to find around here: a dance floor. Hot Ticket is set to open by the end of July, bringing music, cocktails, and late-night energy to Five Points.

• Happy hour is getting a rethink. A Higher Note Festival brings more than 50 brands of THC beverages, adaptogenic drinks, nootropics, and alcohol-free alternatives to Marathon Music Works for an afternoon of tastings, food trucks, and good vibes. Go give yourself a lift this Saturday!*

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